The term “time management” is misleading. This is because we cannot manage time, as it runs continuously. Instead, meaningful activities can be planned.
Instead, we can only fill the time we have available with meaningful activities. It is useful to actively create a balance between work, family, health and the meaning of life, as all aspects make up a satisfying life. All activities should be carried out effectively and efficiently. The effective person does the right things, the efficient person obtains optimal results. The balance between effort (“high-speed”) and relaxation (“high-joy”) is important. In the following, Professors Seiwert, Peseschkian, Knoblauch and Drucker develop a 7-step plan for a fulfilling life.
Step 1: Define your vision of life
The first step is to define your own vision of your private and professional life, asking fundamental questions about your own abilities and needs: What is important to me? What do I want to achieve in life? What do I want to be proud of? Your life goals should be written down and your actions should be aligned with them in a self-committed manner.
Step 2: Define “life hats”
“Life hats” are the individual key roles in your private and professional life (e.g. husband, father, office manager, club chairman, etc.). The 7 most important “life hats” should be defined and written down.
Step 3: Create key tasks
Key tasks must be assigned to each “life hat”. Three key questions help here: What can I do best? What do I enjoy doing the most? What can I use to make a big impact for my life vision? Focusing on strategic goals is crucial.
Step 4: Formulate annual goals
The vision for the future is defined with annual goals using two formulas: Firstly, using the areas of “body”, “performance”, “contacts” and “meaning of life” already mentioned above, and secondly, using the SMART formula with the criteria “specific”, “measurable”, “action-oriented”, “realistic” and “schedulable”.
Step 5: Create a week plan
The period of a week is a flexible planning interval in which the upcoming tasks are divided into four priority categories according to the Eisenhower principle with distinction between “important” (the actor is self-determined) and “urgent” (the actor is externally determined):
- A-tasks concern acute problems and are solved immediately (urgent and important).
- B tasks affect the actor's own strategy and are handled with priority (important, but not urgent).
- C tasks are less important but time-consuming that can be delegated (urgent but not important).
- D tasks can be sent straight to the bin (neither important nor urgent).
Step 6: Plan the day efficiently
The day is a rhythmic planning unit. The following day should be planned in 5 to 10 minutes the evening before and reflected on again in the morning. The following principles are important for planning: Only 50 to 60% of the day should be planned, the rest is a buffer for unforeseen activities. Similar activities should be combined (e.g. a telephone and e-mail block). At the end of the day, a review is carried out and a synchronization with the week's planning is made.
Step 7: Energy and self-discipline
A lot of time can be gained by means of self-discipline and self-motivation, on the condition that this is deeply internalized. Time management is not just about self-castigating duties, but also about enjoying the free time gained in which wishes can be fulfilled. Thus, discipline is worthwhile.
